03/12/2025
some of John Wayne’s greatest films.
During a family trip to Ireland for the filming of his father’s 1952 classic The Quiet Man, Michael was given the opportunity to work as a production assistant. The job sparked his passion for working behind the scenes. Soon after, he was able to further explore the role of a producer, thanks to his father founding Batjac Productions.
When the time came to make the 1963 family-focused comedy McLintock!, Duke decided the “family” aspect should extend behind the scenes as well—so he hired Michael as the film’s producer. “He was 27 years old and given the opportunity to produce a John Wayne film, which was, indeed, a big thrill and challenge,” said Gretchen Wayne, Duke’s daughter-in-law and the widow of Michael Wayne, in an interview with Turner Classic Movies. Rising to the occasion, Michael proved himself a true chip off the old block, completing the film both under budget and ahead of schedule.
Even after John Wayne’s passing, Michael remained dedicated to preserving his father’s legacy in the most meaningful ways possible. In an interview with AARP, Duke’s daughter, Melina Wayne, shared how her father’s final wish was honored in a remarkable way:
“When [my father] was dying, he turned to my late brother Michael and said, ‘Whatever you do, use my name for the benefit of the public. If it weren’t for the public, I wouldn’t be here; you wouldn’t be here. We wouldn’t have had the life we had.’ And that was the beginning of the John Wayne Cancer Foundation.”